What Alice Forgot.

What Alice Forgot is a fun summer read, perfect for keeping you company on the beach or keeping you amused whilst you travel!

Alice Love knocks her head during a spin class and passes out. When she comes to she believes that she is a happily married twenty nine year old, expecting her first child... Alice has amnesia and has totally blanked the last ten years of her life from her mind... Imagine her shock when she discovers that she is thirty nine, in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and a Mum to three children. 

This fast paced read will keep you guessing as Alice struggles to not only remember her life but to get it back on the track she envisioned ten years ago.

Alice is a delightful character and this lighthearted book is entertaining and engaging - just what you need for your holiday!

Union Square Farmer's Market.

I frequently (3-4 times a week) find myself in NYC's Union Square. Not only is it home to a great branch of Sephora (lol) there's a fabulous Farmer's Market that is not only a delight and inspiration to browse it's just so darned Instagram-able! Take a peek at all the gorgeous summer produce that was available there just this last week,...

Fresh garlic and fat juicy radishes for your salad.

Yellow courgettes/zucchini and glorious purple aubergines/eggplants

All manner of green things to pickle, cook and crunch such as okra, peas and beans.

Tomatoes - my favorite! Both large and small.

 Colorful bunches of kale tied up with string.

 Cherries...

Berries...

And stone fruits galore...

And if you're not tempted by any of these - although how could you not be? - You could always just pick up some beautiful flowers!

Union Square Farmers Market operates from 8.00 am - 6.00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (I like Wednesdays market the best as it has a wide selection of vendors but isn't as busy as the Friday and Saturday markets). For information on Green Markets in NYC go to www.grownyc.org

Product Love: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel - Extra Strength.

I love all of the Dr Dennis Gross range and believe that not only are they highly effective  but that they offer great value for money in terms of their price related to the exceptional results they deliver.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads are something of a cult beauty product and central to the range (they are also the priciest product in the range but once you have invested in them they will last for a long while, especially if you buy the large 'economy' box).

The pads come as a two part treatment that work to maintain the acid balance of your skin (the PH of your skin should be slightly acid - which is why alkaline soaps are so damaging).

Pad #1 is loaded with AHA acids. These act as a chemical exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and declogging pores. Swipe the pad over your cleansed, dry face and wait for two minutes (I normally brush my teeth at this point) before wiping over your face with Pad #2.

Pad #2 not only neutralizes the acids from Pad #1 they also contain retinol and resveratrol and deliver them safely to your skin. If there are any parts of your face that are still feel tingly wipe over them again with the second pad until it calms.

Now you are ready to use your regular night treatment or moisturizer. Your skin is super clean and exfoliated,  your pores are unclogged and the rapid changes in the PH of your skin will help absorb your products better and so they will work better.

(Another great thing about these pads are that they come in individual packages so not only do they not dry out, they are super convenient for traveling with).

I've been lucky enough to have had several consultations and clinical strength peels with members of Dr Gross's staff over the last few years and whilst they recommend using these pads daily I find that just two to three times a week suits my skin. On the in-between days I still acid peel but use something that is not so strong (and also cheaper) such as Ren Clarimatte Toner or FAB Facial Radiance Pads.

I've honestly found that since using these my skin has been clearer - I just don't get breakouts these days - more radiant and glowing. They have totally changed my skin and my approach to skincare and are one of my HG skincare products that I cannot be without! 

Buy them at  www.us.spacenk.com, www.sephora.com or direct from Dr Gross at www.dgskincare.com  

  *If you are unused to using acids on your face you will definitely feel 'a bit of a tingle'. Newbies, those with sensitive skin or anyone who feels nervous about applying acids to their face may prefer to buy the regular strength pads first. 

Everything Will Be All Right.

Everything Will Be All Right is another of Tessa Hadley's older books (although it is new to me). 

The story starts when Joyce, her sister and widowed Mother move to the south of England to live with her Mother's sister, Vera, and her family. Over the next fifty years we see Joyce become a Mother and then a Grandmother when her daughter Zoe gives birth to Pearl. 

It's a very similar format to Clever Girl, Tessa Hadley's most recent book. Each chapter gives us a snapshot of the characters and their lives as the story progresses and as in Clever Girl whilst the chapters are interconnected each one could stand alone as a short story. 

The characters are all very realistic and there are small details perfectly captured throughout that make the settings and eras so believable.

On one level this can be read as a basic 'family saga' but there is much more to it than that. Not only does it cleverly shows how lives and attitudes have changed since the end of the war (particularly the lives and roles of women), it is a commentary on the English class system and social change. It also shows how complex and different the relationships between mothers and daughters and family dynamics can be. 

It's very well written. Thought provoking and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Recommended.

Steak with Corn and Kale.

In Summer I mostly tend to cook and eat a lot of meals that are vegetable based or centered on fish and chicken  but sometimes you just feel like a good old hunk of steak. And whilst I'm sure that this is mostly in my head whenever I'm feeling a bit listless or run down a steak does seem to 'sort me out'. Now of course when it's boiling hot the last thing that you need to be doing is slaving over a hot stove so here's a quick and easy dinner that's not only satisfying but also makes use of summer produce.

For two people you will need:
1lb of your favourite steak and your favorite steak seasoning or rub
2 ears of fresh corn
1 bunch of kale
A splash of olive oil
(I like to use Hanger Steak for this, it's fairly inexpensive, tender and very flavorsome with a rich mineral taste. Feel free to use whatever cut you like, this would work well with fillet -if you are feeling extravagant - skirt steak, sirloin, a strip steak, rib eye or steak tips.)  

Preparation:

Wash the kale, rip the leaves from the center stem and chop roughly.
Shuck the corn. To do this stand the corn in a large bowl, hold the top so it's upright and run a sharp knife down the cob shaving off the kernels into the bowl.
Rub the steak with your choice of rub. You can use whatever you like as the corn and kale both have fairly neutral flavours. I kept it simple with salt and lemon pepper but you could use a barbecue rub, a Mexican style rub or even an Asian inspired rub - really whatever takes your fancy.

Cooking.
Cook your steak by your usual method to your preferred level of 'doneness'. I used a ridged grill pan (apartment living hey...) but you could grill it outside also.
Whilst your steak is cooking heat a splash of olive oil in a large frying pan.
Add the corn with a sprinkle of salt and stir it around until it starts to color.
Add the kale and cook until it looks 'wilted' (I like to cook my corn and kale until they are both quite well done.)

Put the vegetables onto a serving platter and put the steak on top.
If you used a strip, rib eye or sirloin leave the cooked steak to rest for five minutes before slicing it and laying it on top of the vegetables - it's easier to serve and looks more appetizing I think.

And that's it - quick, easy and oh-so-good!

Brand Love - Kiehls.

When considering favourite brands Kiehl's wasn't one that sprang instantly to mind but looking around the apartment the other day I realized that there's probably more Kiehl's products hanging around than anything else. 

I managed to gather up the above in next to no time and that was without grabbing any of Mr C&C'S numerous Facial Fuel products (There's enough of those for their own post!).

Why do I like Kiehl's so much? Well...

. They have an impressive range of products that covers hair and body care as well as face care - there's even deodorant.

. The prices range from very reasonable to the higher end. 

. Their products are suitable for both men and women. There's also a few items for babies and even Cuddly Coat Grooming Shampoo for dogs!

. They do a wide range of sizes from travel sized minis to huge one liter bottles of shampoo and body lotions. 

. Their packaging has a nice retro feel to it. It's very functional and whilst it is pretty basic I find that it doesn't feel cheap.

. Kiehls stores are always attractive and well laid out (I like to shop at the flagship 3rd Avenue store in NYC) and I find that the staff are well educated about the products they are selling. 

. They are usually pretty darn generous with samples.

. They have a recycling program that, while not as generous as it once was, is still worth taking part in.
.  They have a rewards system where each $100 spent gives you $10 off your next purchase. 

. They have great value for money sets which make lovely gifts (or you could buy one and keep it for yourself!). 

There really are too many good Kiehl's products for me to talk about in detail but some of my faves are #1 Lip Balm (currently four tubes of this in the house!), Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover, Ultra Facial Toner, Creme de Corps Body Lotion (all pictured above), Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, Amino Acid Shampoo and  Coriander Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub.

Overall there's a great range of products with something for everyone.
I'm a huge Kiehl's fan!

The Knockoff.

The Knockoff is a light hearted look at fashion journalism in today's digital age and a perfect read for this summer's beach holiday!

Imogen returns to her job as Editor at Glossy magazine after extended medical leave to find not only has her ex assistant been running the show whilst she has been away but that the magazine has been turned into an app! In order to prevent Eve from ruining both Glossy and Imogen's reputation Imogen has to learn fast how to adapt to life in the digital age often with amusing consequences. Who will end up running the show? Imogen or Eve? And what format will Glossy take?

Entertaining and well written The Knockofff is a little over the top with exaggerated characters but that's part of it's charm. Taking a peak into the glamorous world of New York fashion and publishing, there's also a couple of back stories involving Imogen's home life and Eve's wedding (to Imogen's ex-boyfriend no less!) Imogen is a sympathetic character who you will be rooting for and I don't think that it's a great plot spoiler to say that, of course, Eve gets exposed for the witch that she really is and that Imogen triumphs in the end.

Overall, it's a frothy and fun read. Very current with it's references to designers, pop culture, celebrities etc etc. The Knockoff also comments quite accurately on the power of the internet, magazines, websites and bloggers as well as raising a few questions about 'internet ethics'. 

Why not pop it in your (designer) bag when you next go to the beach?